Understanding Hebrews 12:14 in Depth: Pursue Peace and Holiness

Context and Meaning of Hebrews 12:14

This verse comes in the middle of a practical section where the author urges believers to stay faithful, warning against bitterness and ungodly choices like Esau's.

The original readers were likely Jewish Christians facing pressure and discouragement, possibly tempted to give up on following Jesus. The author reminds them that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6) so they can share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:10), and that peace with others and personal holiness go hand in hand. Verse 14 sets a positive goal, while verses 15 - 17 warn against three dangers: a root of bitterness, sexual immorality, and godlessness like Esau's - who traded his future blessing for a momentary desire.

These verses show that Christians must pursue holiness and peace. This pursuit connects us to God's grace and helps us avoid destructive choices that lead us away from Him.

Pursuing Peace and Holiness: What 'Strive' Really Means

Building on the call to endurance and godly living, Hebrews 12:14 uses the strong word 'strive' - from the Greek *diōkete* - to show that peace and holiness aren't passive goals but active pursuits.

The word *diōkete* means to chase after or pursue with urgency, like running after something valuable you might lose. Believers are told to consistently and diligently pursue peace with others and personal holiness.

Striving for holiness isn't about earning God's love - it's about responding to His discipline so we can live in His presence.

Peace involves living in right relationships, forgiving others, and seeking unity, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:9. Holiness, meanwhile, doesn't mean sinless perfection but being set apart for God's purposes, shaped by His discipline as Hebrews 12:10 says. And the reason is serious: without holiness, no one will see the Lord - meaning a close, eternal relationship with God requires a life that reflects His character. This isn't about earning salvation, but showing that real faith changes how we live.

Living Out Peace and Holiness in Everyday Life

With the call to 'strive' made clear, Hebrews 12:14 now challenges us to live it out in daily choices.

Following Jesus involves actively making peace with others and growing in holiness. Both actions reflect God's character and are essential to walking with Him.

Real faith shows up in how we treat others and grow closer to God, not just in what we believe.

To the original readers, this was both comforting and serious: God treats us like His children through discipline (Hebrews 12:7-8), shaping us to live in His presence. And since we’ve been welcomed into God’s unshakable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28), our lives should show it by pursuing peace and purity every day.

Seeing God and Sharing His Peace: The Hope That Shapes How We Live

This call to holiness and peace gains deeper meaning when we remember that one day, we will actually see the Lord. Psalm 11:7 states, 'The Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.'

That future vision of God, fully revealed in 1 John 3:2-3 - 'we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is' - motivates our present pursuit of holiness, since everyone who hopes in Him 'purifies himself as he is pure.' Jesus is our peace, breaking down walls between people through His cross (Ephesians 2:14-16). We reflect His work by actively making peace in our relationships.

We pursue holiness and peace not just to avoid sin, but because we’re being shaped to see God face to face.

So in everyday life, this means choosing reconciliation over grudges, pursuing integrity even when no one’s watching, and building church communities where people grow together in holiness and harmony - all because we live in light of the day we’ll see God.

Application